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TSA seizes another record haul of guns at aiports
An average of a dozen guns a day were discovered at the nation’s airports last year.
Transportation Security Administration officers discovered 4,432 firearms on passengers or in their carry-on bags in 2019, another all-time record.
As usual, the vast majority were loaded.
The number of firearms seized has steadily risen every year since 2008, and last year saw an increase of 200.
In 2007 there were just 803 gun seizures.
"The continued increase in the number of firearms that travelers bring to airport checkpoints is deeply troubling," TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement.
The main excuse – that the owner ‘forgot’ the weapon was in their bag – proves that the TSA’s messaging isn’t getting through to travelers.
There is only one way guns are accepted on flights.
"It should be unloaded. Then, it should be packed in a hard-sided locked case, taken to the airline check-in counter to be declared, and checked," said Pekoske.
The TSA said 278 of the 440 airports manned by TSA officers had gun seizures at passenger screening.
Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport had the most with 330 followed by Dallas-Fort Worth with 217, while Orlando, George Bush Intercontinental Houston, Phoenix, Dallas Love Field and Denver each had more than 100 guns.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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